Inspection apparatus

Abstract

An inspection apparatus comprises a first channel that passes an aqueous sample therethrough, a second channel that passes a phosphate eluent therethrough, a separation device that separates by size a group of substances contained in the aqueous sample, and a TOC device that oxidizes each substance separated by the separation device by size and measures organic carbon contained in each substance. The separation device includes a column for size-exclusion chromatography and a sample injection unit that introduces the aqueous sample into a mobile phase passed through the first channel. The second channel is connected to the first channel between the column and the sample injection unit, and causes the phosphate eluent to merge with the aqueous sample between the sample injection unit and the column.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An inspection apparatus that inspects an aqueous sample, comprising:
 a first channel that passes the aqueous sample therethrough; 
 a second channel that passes a phosphate eluent therethrough; 
 a separation device that separates by size a group of substances contained in the aqueous sample; and 
 a measurement unit that oxidizes each substance separated by size by the separation device and measures organic carbon contained in each substance, 
 the separation device including
 a column for size-exclusion chromatography, and 
 an introduction unit that introduces the aqueous sample into a mobile phase passed through the first channel, 
 
 the second channel being connected to the first channel between the column and the introduction unit, and causing the phosphate eluent to merge with the aqueous sample between the introduction unit and the column. 
 
     
     
       2. The inspection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the separation device further includes a first mixer that is provided downstream of the introduction unit and mixes a solvent with the mobile phase, 
 the second channel is connected to the first mixer, and 
 the first mixer receives the phosphate eluent from the second channel and mixes the received phosphate eluent with the mobile phase having had the aqueous sample introduced therein. 
 
     
     
       3. The inspection apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the separation device further includes a second mixer that is provided upstream of the introduction unit and mixes the solvent with the mobile phase. 
     
     
       4. The inspection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous sample introduced at the introduction unit is supplied from an autosampler. 
     
     
       5. The inspection apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer and a spectrofluorometer at a channel between the separation device and the measurement unit.